Open & Shut: 3-22-2010

National roundup of station, c-store, truckstop openings, closings, rebrandings, more

March 22, 2010

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- "Open & Shut" is an occasional roundup of some of the many new-store openings, reopenings, groundbreakings, raze and rebuilds, rebrandings, closures and sales taking place around the country by chains small, medium and large that have not otherwise been reported in CSP Daily News.

Especially on the independent operator level, this recurring feature provides a snapshot of the frequently changing retail marketplace that includes such outlets as convenience stores, gas stations, truckstops, travel centers and related locations.

QuikTrip opened its second store in Tucson, said The Arizona Daily Star. The store is 5,000 square feet; its gasoline pumps can accommodate 16 cars. The company also announced it will open a store there in July.Arkansas

The last full-service gas station in El Dorado will no longer be selling gasoline, said The El Dorado News-Times. Risinger's Spur station, which has been in business for almost 40 years, was forced into the decision by a recent gasoline leak, according to current owner Butch Risinger.

California

7-Eleven opened new locations in Norwalk in mid-February, Simi Valley and Bellflower in late February and Culver City in mid-March, 7ElevenSoCal said on Twitter.

The Round Up Jr. Mart reopened in Canyon Lake in early February as Eastport Market, under the new ownership of Abed Taha, reported The Friday Flyer. The fuel pumps had been closed for more than a year. The market has a current and valid alcohol license from the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, which allows sales of beer, wine and distilled spirits.

Colorado

A Maverik c-store is being built in Fruita, said KJCT. The store is set to open at the end of April. Maverik plans to build two more stores in the Grand Valley this year in Grand Junction. Those stores are set to open late this summer.

Connecticut

The Greens Farms Shell station in Westport has re-opened in mid-February under new ownership, the Singh family of Norwalk. Co-owner Param Veer Singh tole Westport Now that it will also offer mechanic services including emission testing. He said the family plans to renovate the new location to add a c-store. The station was formerly owned by Stan DiGuiseppi Sr. for the past 41 years until it closed on December 9.Illinois

A Road Ranger in Loves Park opened on February 26. It features a drive-thu window, deli, soup bar, gourmet coffee bar, beer cave, handicapped-accessible dispensers and more.

Maine

The CITGO station and Big Apple Convenience Store closed in early February, reported WABI.

MassachusettsTwo Irving gas stations in Westport closed in early March because C.K. Smith, the dealer who ran those and other sites, ran into financial difficulties, said The Herald News. Irving Oil has taken over both stations during a push to expand into southeastern New England. The company "absolutely" wants to grow in this area, spokesperson Liza Dube said, but the future of these locations are "uncertain." C.K. Smith decided to take itself out of the retail gasoline business and instead focus on home heating and cooling, Dube said.

The owner of the Beverly Shop & Go has bought the former Li'l Peach c-store down the street and plans to turn it into a "market-type" store with groceries and a small coffee shop, said The Salem News. Amit Patel said he hopes to open the new store this summer. It has been empty for nearly three years. The location has operated as a store for decades. It was a Li'l Peach for 22 years before closing in April 2007. Patel said the new store will sell groceries, produce, dairy products, frozen food and prepared food. Patel will continue to operate his Shop & Go c-store.

Masoud Buisir is the new manager of the Prime station in Holbrook, formerly Jim Reichert's Gulf, The Holbrook Sun said in mid-February. Buisir is president of Barga Motors. Prime Energy now owns the station, and Buisir is leasing the garage from the company. Buisirt said that in addition to selling gasoline and servicing autos, he will also continue to sell propane fuel and ice. Buisir said that he closed his previous station in Quincy and relocated it to Holbrook.

Minnesota

Vergas 66 Gas & Convenience has new owner as of January 1, reported The Frazee-Vergas Forum. Denny Iverson and his wife, Jo, sold the store to their daughter, Kim, and her husband, Dan Doyle. It features a deli and products from the Hot Stuff food line, soft-serve ice cream, video rentals, propane, 24-hour pay at the pump, an ATM and an outside eating area in addition to the ample groceries and snacks.

The Woodland Convenience Store opened in Lake George in early March, reported The Park Rapids Enterprise

Kwik Trip Inc. opened a new location in Monticello in early March, KwikTripInc said on Twitter.

New York

A new Express Mart station and c-store in Fayetteville opened in late February, reported WSYR.

Ohio

New owners Jim and Tommi Pitcock opened the doors of Mother Tucker's in Zanesville on January 16, reported The Zanesville Times Recorder. Their plan is to keep what is "tried and true" while also offering new items and services. "We don't want to be known as just a gas station or a convenience store, but more like a mini mega mart," said Jim Pitcock, who has added breakfast sandwiches and a coffee club with the seventh cup for free. It will continue to offer made-from-scratch pizza, egg and chicken salad and subs. Along with a variety of groceries, convenience foods, necessities, lottery and fuel, the Pitcocks said they now offer prepaid cell phone service. It will offer bill payment services and plans call for a drive-thru this spring. Other plans include an ice cream and milkshake bar and upgrades to the car wash. Mother Tucker's opened in 1979 with owners Jim and Karen Tucker.

Giant Eagle's GetGo station opened March 1 in Streetsboro said The Gateway News. The station and c-store features 12 pumps with the fuelperks program. Renovations also are underway inside the store, where Giant Eagle is building an expanded pharmacy department with a drive-thru window, as well as expanded offerings in areas such as prepared foods, deli and bakery.

A new gas station opened its doors in mid-February said The Evening Leader. The Pump-N-Pak, a Shell station, is at the site of the former Pak-A-Sak. Owners Najam Saleem and Muhammad Khokhar said a tobacco shop inside the store is in the works. They are working on a beer license. Currently, the site offers three fuel pumps, plus a diesel and a kerosene pump. Inside the store, customers can choose from the regular selection of carbonated drinks, as well as slushies, and ice cappuccino-like drinks called Siberian Chills. The site also boats washrooms, automotive items, over-the-counter drugs and will have some grocery items. They are also trying to see if there is a potential to go 24/7.

Texas

Evolution Fuels has executed a lease agreement for its first fuel station in Dallas, it said in early March. The station will serve as the first "marquee" location for the company's planned rollout of its stations. Evolution Fuels plans to uniquely image the station and offer specialty foods, beverages and other products to help create a recognizable brand as it rolls out additional stations. This station is part of the company's overall strategic rollout of stations and truckstops in key metropolises and retail areas. The station will offer renewable fuel blends at the pump, including E10, E20, E85 and B20. The plan calls for the development of a chain of renewable fuel stations in the Southwest and Southeast that will be a combination of Evolution Fuels-branded stations/c-stores and western-motif truckstops modeled after Willie's Place Truck Stop in Carl's Corner, Texas.

Loves Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. is building a new location in Seguin, said The Seguin Gazette. It will include an Arby's restaurant. "It's tentatively scheduled to begin construction towards the end of 2010," said Christina Dukeman, communications manager for. "We've purchased nearly 14 acres of land there, and we're looking for a possible spring, 2011 opening."

Kwik Trip plans two new stores in the Green Bay metro area, developer Paul Kaczrowski, who sold the land for each, told The Green Bay Press Gazette.

Erickson Oil's Freedom station and c-store in North Hudson will undergo a makeover and expansion this year, said The Hudson Star-Observer in mid-February.

Nova Scotia

Tony Hubert bought a c-store in Amherst last year; however, seven months later, he is closing the doors of the 50-year-old store because he says he can't compete with cheaper cigarettes and milk a few kilometers away in New Brunswick, reported the Canadian Press in mid-February.

Plunge in oil prices sets the stage for record margins and boost in in-store sales. Also In This Issue: Profitability skyrockets for top performers! Other channels seek to redefine convenience! The economy enters a new stage. The growing health-and-wellness trend. Fuel demand; oil's slide; multicultural momentum; and data, data, data!

Since 2003 CSP magazine has ranked No. 1 in readership and market share over all other industry publications. C-store marketers have identified CSP as the preferred magazine source for their trade marketing communications. With industry-leading, highly targeted circulation to more than 100,000 subscribers, CSP reaches the key convenience retailing decision-makers fifteen times a year.